Terrence: A Short Story (UNDER GROUND #0.8) by Alice Rachel

Bullying is nothing new to Terrence Young. The teasing and harassment are constant. His family is less than understanding as well. To them, Terrence chose to be gay and complicate their lives. Their little rejections sting and cut him deeply.

But when the Deviance Act is passed, Terrence’s life takes a turn for the worse overnight. Under the new law, a mere look, a simple touch, or a small kiss in public could mean death. Terrence attempts to hide his orientation to survive. That is until a gang attacks him in a bar and Chase Martinez interferes.

Chase is gorgeous, kind-hearted, and he’s a rebel in the Underground—all qualities that attract Terrence so much there is no stopping the fall. Loving Chase might be dangerous, but Terrence is done living in fear and letting others dictate what is right for him.

*The author pledges to donate 100% of sales revenue from “Terrence: A Short Story” to The Ally Coalition

As noted by the #0.8, this story is part of a series. And unlike many other series where books follow different characters, this can’t really be read as a standalone. I did just that, as this was the first I’d heard of this series, and while I was able to follow along just fine throughout the story, the ending is a MAJOR cliffhanger that I’m assuming is concluded in subsequent stories. So, just a head’s up in case you’re like me and unfamiliar with the series as a whole.

This series takes place in a dystopian America. The author includes a very informative reference list at the beginning of the story that was a huge help; even if you aren’t someone new to the series like I was, I can see how the various names and settings and situations could get confusing. Having that reference point to go back to when I had questions was a really nice touch.

Terrence is a gay man in a world that views homosexuality as illegal; so much so that they execute people who have been accused of homosexuality – even without proof. This story was a hard pill to swallow at times because the world seemed so bleak. However, Terrence had such a bright outlook, wanting to see the best in people and in the world. He’s such a sweet character. Along with Chase, who has a closet full of demons in his past, these two had sweet on-page chemistry and complemented each other nicely.

I’m honestly not sure I want to continue this series, as it does seem vast and complex and I’m pretty much solely an m/m romance reader. But the story and the world Alice Rachel created did intrigue me, so much so that I’m keeping these books on my radar. For me, that’s saying something. If dystopian serials are your thing, definitely pick up this series. I’d recommend following the recommended reading order (starting with Under Ground). And maybe when you finish, you’ll send me a PM and let me know what happens after this cliffhanger 🙂